Mass Effect

BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka took the media through the first hour of gameplay for his company's anticipated sci-fi action role playing game Mass Effect. The Xbox 360 exclusive title is scheduled for sometime this year, possibly in the spring. Muzyka offered a tour of the polished game, which featured strong next-generation graphics and rich designs.

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In Mass Effect, players take on the role of Commander Shephard, an elite soldier in the year 2183. Players can customize their version of Shephard based on gender, abilities, and appearance traits such as complexion and hair style. Players can even choose why type of background and military history. The game's backstory involves a legend about a mythic race of machines that invades the galaxy every 50,000 years and exterminates all advanced organic life. Comm. Shepard, however, believes the legend is true and is dispatch along with his crew on the SS Normandy to investigate a mysterious disturbance.

The introduction and pre-rendered animation that sets up Mass Effect's story was enticing and added to the cinematic feel of the game. Once character customization was completed, Muzyka continued the demo on the SS Normandy, where players can engage in conversations with NPCs among the crew and give them orders. Muzyka said players can either soak up the experience and explore the ship for an hour or so, or they can simply jump into the action.

For the sake of the demo, Muzyka chose the latter and soon Mass Effect's third-person shooter angle was in full effect. At first the Halo-esque combat had a familiar look to it, but BioWare showed off a couple of tricks such as being able to command NPCs in real-time combat. In addition to enhanced combat, BioWare also paid particular attention to detail with the digital characters, giving them more complex facial features and expressions.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of the Mass Effect was the ability for players to make choices that impact the course of the game. In addition to choosing your character's background and abilities, Muzyka said players will be faced with moral dilemmas and pivotal choices. For example, during the demo Shepard came across a few survivors of an alien attack, who are pleading for help. Do you stay and protect them or do you continue your mission and search for the invaders? Decisions, decisions. "What we're trying to do is offer choice. You can be a hero or an anti-hero," Muzyka said. "It's like being Jack Bauer in space."

Muzyka said Mass Effect's universe is extensive and can provide more than 40 hours of gameplay if players want to indulge in a little exploration. With high quality graphics, detailed character customization and plenty of action, Mass Effect looks like it will be one of the Xbox 360's premiere titles this year.